Whatever you do, leave my taxes out

Published: Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 12:00 a.m.

To The Editor: Your recent Associated Press article told of the movement afoot to have our federal government pay black Americans in recompense for their ancestors having been enslaved in the United States.

The effort is led by two of the usual suspects, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

This effort is being pursued in England as well, on the grounds that British-flagged ships were involved in transporting this sad human cargo from Africa to here.

Interestingly enough, nothing is being asked of the descendants of African tribes who captured these unfortunates in the first place, being their first owners, nor of the Arabs who were, almost exclusively, the dealers in slaves who were sold for transport to North, South and Central America and the West Indies.

For nearly 50 years, black Americans have been given preference of every kind imaginable -- whether in education, employment, business opportunity, you name it.

If one church or another, or one business corporation or another, wants to give money to present-day black Americans for bad deeds done more than a hundred years ago, well and good.

<p>To The Editor: Your recent Associated Press article told of the movement afoot to have our federal government pay black Americans in recompense for their ancestors having been enslaved in the United States.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>The effort is led by two of the usual suspects, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.</p><p>This effort is being pursued in England as well, on the grounds that British-flagged ships were involved in transporting this sad human cargo from Africa to here.</p><p>Interestingly enough, nothing is being asked of the descendants of African tribes who captured these unfortunates in the first place, being their first owners, nor of the Arabs who were, almost exclusively, the dealers in slaves who were sold for transport to North, South and Central America and the West Indies.</p><p>For nearly 50 years, black Americans have been given preference of every kind imaginable -- whether in education, employment, business opportunity, you name it.</p><p>If one church or another, or one business corporation or another, wants to give money to present-day black Americans for bad deeds done more than a hundred years ago, well and good.</p><p>But please, not the federal government, not with my tax dollars.</p><p>Ted Kirby</p><p>Flat Rock</p>